nursing rabbit

Question
Hi there.  This question is for a friend of mine who lives in India.
I know rabbits are usually weaned between 4-8 weeks, however she recently aquired a mother and her kit.  The kit is over a year old and it still suckles on mom.  Do you have any idea why this would be going on?  If they are seperated they get depressed and the mother won't eat.

Answer
Dear Em,

I've heard of a few cases like this, and it's best to just let the two of them enjoy this unusual bond.  They cannot be separated, obviously.  They are closely bonded and they need each other.  The suckling is probably just an extension of their emotional attachment to each other, and the mama might not even be producing milk.

It is important for both bunnies to be spayed, however, as unspayed female rabbits have a very high risk of uterine cancer.  You can help your friend find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

via the international listings linked there.  And please also refer him/her to:

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

Above all, though, never separate those two bunnies.  They are bonded, and would probably grieve to death if separated.  They should even go to the vet together and be spayed on the same day, if possible.  Even when ill, (or *especially* when ill), bonded rabbits must NEVER be separated. They need each other more than ever.

Hope this helps.

Dana